Medication First aPPROACH
The Missouri Department of Mental Health and Opioid STR/SOR grant partners have developed and disseminated a “Medication First” treatment approach to OUD, analogous to the Housing First approach to chronic homelessness, across dozens of Missouri’s state-funded substance use disorder treatment programs.
Key principles of Medication First:
People with OUD receive pharmacotherapy treatment as quickly as possible, prior to lengthy assessments or treatments planning sessions;
Maintenance pharmacotherapy is delivered without arbitrary tapering or time limits;
Individualized psychosocial services are continually offered but not required as a condition of pharmacotherapy;
Pharmacotherapy is discontinued only if it is worsening the person’s condition.
To learn more about Medication First and treatment implementation and evaluation , visit the Findings page
Looking for additional Medication first implementation resources? click the links below.
